The Beyond: Ouija Boards

The questions you should be asking yourself right now are, Why are you here? Why are you reading this section of our website? What are your intentions?
Be VERY careful with how you proceed. Read our Caution Page first.

   It's pronounced WEE-JA not WEE-JEE! I admit, however that I often prefer to say WEE-JEE just to annoy people who take themselves too seriously.

   First off, before we get into the cool stuff, let me say the same history lesson crap that every other Ouija page on the net says. The original patent date for the first manufactured commercial 'talking board' was February 10, 1891 by Kennard Novelty Company in Baltimore, MD. A year later Kennard went broke, and William Fuld took it over. He sold the design to Parker Brothers in 1966. The board became, and remained an American favorite until the world was traumatized in 1974. After that, the public lost their nerve.

   Ouija comes from the French and German words for 'yes' and...You know what? Forget it. Use a search engine if you want a history lesson. Let's get down to business.

How does it work?

Two or more people sit, and put the board on their lap. They put the planchette on the board. That's that little heart shaped thingy with the hole in it. They place their hands on the planchette and start asking questions. At that point, it spells out the answers.

There are many theories about what is really happening when people sit down to use the board. None of which can be proven beyond a 'reasonable doubt'. It all comes down to your own experience and what YOU believe.

Ideomotor Effect: The short definition for this is, involuntary and unconscious motor behavior caused by suggestion or other outside influence. In other words, you're pushing the damn thing, and you don't even know that you're doing it! It's akin to self hypnosis. You ask the questions. Deep inside somewhere your subconscious knows the answer, and it forces your hands to spell it out on the board. Pure logic.

Argument: If that's true, then why does the board sometimes tell you things that are IMPOSSIBLE for you, or your subconscious to know? For example, the board telling you the maiden name of a strange woman that you've never met, only to meet her later, and find out that it was true.

Supernatural Influence: This theory is pretty self explanatory. Some supernatural being is moving the planchette, and communicating with you from beyond. If this theory is true, then it is considered to be a form of channeling.

Argument: Sorry, that doesn't make sense. Try blindfolding the players! Watch the gibberish that the board spells out when asked a question. Hell, half the time, it doesn't even stop on a letter. Ya'd think that a 'sentient being' from the other side could get it right. No, the players can't see the board to push the pointer where THEY want it to go. Plain and simple.

Here's what I think: (Note: I'm not asking you to agree with me, make up your own mind.) I think both opinions are equally valid. Our motor functions unconsciously move the planchette in a manor that is influenced from channeling the spirits from beyond. Why not?

   I believe that we move the pointer ourselves, sometimes without realizing it, and I remember times that I DID realize it. YES. I moved the pointer, and knew I was doing it. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I know what you're thinking. Hear me out.

   Under the theory that you ARE in fact channeling a spirit while using the board, the next logical conclusion is that you're willing to do so. Based on this, the spirit is using you to move the planchette, and using YOUR EYES to see the board. Which explains the blindfold thing.

   Heres where things begin to get weird, so please bear with me. Things seem symbiotic. If they're influencing your brain for motor control, and using your eyes, you may actually have access to THEIR line of thinking. I've experienced this. You can instinctively know what they are trying to spell BEFORE the signals move your hands to the letters. At that point, consciously helping the planchette get to its destination would be perfectly acceptable. I believe that we DO move the thing, with help, and vice-versa.

    I have no proof of any of this. It's just my theory which seems to fit my experiences, and many arguments.

Argument: I have no argument against this at this time, obviously because I believe it to be true. If you have a solid argument AGAINST it, let me know. I'm perfectly willing to reevaluate my beliefs on all this stuff if given solid reason.

Don't Be Stupid
These are things that you should NEVER do when using a board.

~ Don't be drunk or high on some crazy drug. Moron.

~ NEVER ask the board when you or anyone else is going to die. Why would you want to know such a thing? Are you sick?

~ Don't tell the board to move something in the room or ask for physical signs. See, now you're literally asking for a world of hurt.

~ NEVER invite a spirit or whatever it is to come home, or stay with you.

~ Don't tell the board to curse or hurt someone else. If you want to do that to someone, you belong in prison.

~ Don't play while sick. Advantage can be taken of your weakened and sickly state.

~ Don't use the board as a tool to mess with peoples heads, and try to scare them. That's just mean, man.

~ OUIJA BOARDS SHOULD NOT BE USED ON SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS! There is no scientific credibility in a board. Nobody KNOWS what's behind a board whether it be positive or negative. NOBODY with credibility themselves can claim to possess that knowledge.

User Tips
Here are some basic tips that in my experience help to make things run smoothly, and safely.

~Some people use the board alone. Some people say it's best to have two people, a male and a female. Some say to sit facing each other with your knees touching and the board on your lap. Look, I've used the board under all circumstances with multiple partners, and I didn't even get any diseases. In my experience, none of it matters. I think it's all about personal preference. I never use the board with more than 2 people using at a time, someone else and myself. I don't even like to have others in the room if I can help it. It just makes things run smoother FOR ME, and it's less confusing for all involved. YOU may want to handle things differently. Do your own thing.

~Have an open mind. If you believe the board isn't going to work, or its use will result in a bad experience then you're probably right.

~Choose your partner carefully! I can't stress this enough. Don't use the board with a stranger. Make sure it's someone that you know and trust. This way you can be certain of your partners intentions, as well as their seriousness, and sense of ethics when it comes to the whole thing. You don't need some moron on the board with you. Non-believers can ruin the whole experience. Also, flaky people can too. You know what I mean. These are people that hear the cat meow, and say it's a being on the board. EVERYTHING is a sign or something creepy, because THEY say so. Avoid these people.

~Prepare for the experience. Decide with your partner what you wish to gain from this experience. Think of some questions, and write them down. If you can't think of a good reason to attempt communication or any decent questions, you have no business using the board in the first place.

~I don't know your religion. For all I know, you could worship, and pray to dog poop. Before getting into using the board, and in accordance with your religion, you MAY want to say a blessing or a prayer, cast a circle, or clean the dookie. Do whatever you have to do to FEEL protected. I stress the word FEEL because, again we're dealing with something that NOBODY truly understands. There is no solid evidence that you'll be protected from anything. But...It can't hurt.

~When you begin, make sure that you tell the board that ONLY positive experiences will be permitted. The moment things become negative, you will terminate communication.

~Only one person should be asking questions at a time. To do it another way would just confuse things.

~DO NOT BE FEARFUL! One thing that I've learned from Yoda, is that fear leads to the dark side. If you go into it with negative fearful vibes, that's EXACTLY what you're going to get back, but worse. Just make sure you have a positive attitude.

~Be serious. Don't sit there and laugh the whole time and make 'scary' noises to freak people out. Take it seriously. There's a flip side to that coin. Don't be TOO serious. When people take things too seriously, negative feelings can easily become involved, and you don't want that.

I sense much fear in you.

~The board is not your friend. It is not your enemy. It is your total stranger. Treat it as such, Be courteous and polite as you would to a normal person.

~Whatever you're speaking to on the other side of the board, ALWAYS assume that it's potentially dangerous.

~Don't accuse people of moving the planchette. Everyone touching the thing is pushing it. This is a stupid argument, especially when you consider the next tip.

~Get the planchette moving yourself. Yup, you heard me right. Go ahead and push it. Get you and your partner in a flow where it's moving smoothly.

~Don't be overzealous. Start with simple 'yes or no' questions until things become easier. You'll have to be patient because it might take a while to get answers at all. Once things start flowing smoothly, then you can get more complicated.

~Keep control of the situation. Don't allow the board to dictate to you, and don't believe everything it tells you without some solid evidence. Wishy washy people SHOULD NOT use the board. You need to be strong, firm, and assertive. Don't be passive or aggressive.

~If the board begins saying things or doing things that make you the slightest bit uncomfortable, say 'Good Bye' and put the board away.

~When the board says 'Good Bye', let it go. Don't keep trying to communicate. When you're finished, you should also say 'Good Bye'.

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